[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 156 (Monday, August 13, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48058-48060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19444]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 27

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0820; Special Conditions No. 27-028-SC]


Special Conditions: Eurocopter France, EC130T2; Use of 30-Minute 
Power Rating

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final special conditions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Eurocopter France 
Model EC130T2 helicopter. This model helicopter will have the novel or 
unusual design feature of a 30-minute power rating, generally intended 
to be used for hovering at increased power for search and rescue 
missions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain 
adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These 
special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the 
Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety 
equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

DATES: The effective date of these special conditions is July 30, 2012. 
We must receive your comments by September 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2012-0820 
using any of the following methods:
    Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
follow the online instructions for sending your comments 
electronically.
    Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC, 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery of Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m., and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Privacy: The FAA will post all comments it receives, without 
change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information 
the commenter provides. Using the search function of the docket web 
site, anyone can find and read the electronic form of all comments 
received into any FAA docket, including the name of the individual 
sending the comment (or signing the comment for an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement can 
be found in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-19478), as well as at http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions 
for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room @12-140 
of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m., and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Haight, Rotorcraft Standards 
Staff, ASW-111, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5204; 
facsimile (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Reason for No Prior Notice and Comment Before Adoption

    The FAA has determined that notice and opportunity for public 
comment are impractical because we do not expect substantive comments, 
and because this special condition only affects this one manufacturer. 
We also considered that these procedures would significantly delay the 
issuance of the design approval, and thus, the delivery of the affected 
aircraft. As certification for the Eurocopter France model EC130T2 is 
imminent, the FAA finds that good cause exists for making these special 
conditions effective upon issuance.

Comments Invited

    While we did not precede this with a notice of proposed special 
conditions, we invite interested people to take part in this rulemaking 
by sending written

[[Page 48059]]

comments, data, or views. The most helpful comments reference a 
specific portion of the special conditions, explain the reason for any 
recommended change, and include supporting data.
    We will consider all comments we receive by the closing date for 
comments. We will consider comments filed late if it is possible to do 
so without incurring expense or delay. We may change these special 
conditions based on the comments we receive.

Background and Discussion

    On October 7, 2008, Eurocopter France applied to amend Type 
Certificate No. H9EU to include the new EC130T2 model. The EC130T2 
model is a derivative of the EC130B4, which is currently approved under 
Type Certificate No. H9EU. The EC130T2 is a 14 CFR part 27 normal 
category, single-engine rotorcraft, which will be certificated for 
single-pilot operation and a maximum of seven passengers. This model 
includes increased performance from the Turbomeca Arriel 2D engine, an 
upgraded main transmission, new vehicle engine management display 
(VEMD) avionics, and an active vibration control system.
    Eurocopter France proposes that the EC130T2 model use a novel and 
unusual design feature, which is a 30-minute power rating, identified 
in the Arriel 2D engine type certification data sheet (TCDS) [FAA 
Turbomeca TCDS No. E00054EN]. 14 CFR 1.1 defines ``rated takeoff 
power'' as limited in use to no more than 5 minutes for takeoff 
operation. Thus, the use of takeoff power for 30 minutes will require 
special airworthiness standards, known as special conditions, to 
address the use of this 30-minute power rating and its effects on the 
rotorcraft. These special conditions will add requirements to the 
existing airworthiness standards in 14 CFR 27.923 (Rotor drive system 
and control mechanism tests), Sec.  27.1305 (Powerplant instruments), 
and Sec.  27.1521 (Powerplant limitations).
    For the EC130T2, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has 
issued CRI E-02, which documents the special conditions.
    The following is a summary of the final special conditions:
    In addition to the requirements of Section 27.923, Rotor Drive 
System and Control Mechanism Tests, the aircraft drive-system effects 
due to use of the 30-minute power rating versus the Takeoff (5-minute) 
rating must be accounted for in the rotor drive-system testing.
    In addition to the requirements of Section 27.1305, Powerplant 
Instruments, since this new 30-minute power rating has a time limit 
associated with its use, the pilot must have the means to identify:
     When the rated engine power level is achieved,
     When the event begins, and
     When the time interval expires.
    In addition to the requirements of Section 27.1521, Powerplant 
Limitations, a new 30-minute rating must be defined for the use of 
takeoff power for greater than 5 minutes and must be limited to no more 
than 30 minutes per use.
    Furthermore, the Model EC130T2 rotorcraft flight manual must 
include limitations on use of the 30-minute power rating to state:
     Continuous use above MCP is limited to 30 minutes, and
     Cumulative use above MCP is limited to 1 hour per flight.

Type Certification Basis

    Under 14 CFR 21.101, Eurocopter France must show that the EC130T2 
model helicopter meets the applicable provisions of the regulations 
incorporated by reference in Type Certificate No. H9EU, or the 
applicable regulations in effect on the date of application for the 
amendment to the type certificate. The regulations incorporated by 
reference in the type certificate are commonly referred to as the 
``original type certification basis.'' The regulations incorporated by 
reference in H9EU are as follows:
    (a) 14 CFR 21.29, and part 27 Amendments 27-1 through 27-32, except 
14 CFR 27.952 is not adopted.
    (b) 14 CFR Part 36 Appendix H through Amendment 20
    (c) Special Condition 27-009-SC for HIRF
    (d) Equivalent Level of Safety Findings issued against:
    (1) 14 CFR 27.1549(b) Powerplant Instrument Markings.
    (2) 14 CFR 27.1027(b)(2) Main Gearbox Oil Filter Bypass
    The Administrator has determined that the applicable airworthiness 
regulations (that is, 14 CFR part 27) do not contain adequate or 
appropriate safety standards for the EC130T2 model helicopter because 
of a novel or unusual design feature. Therefore, special conditions are 
prescribed under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.16.
    The FAA issues special conditions, as defined by 14 CFR 11.19, in 
accordance with 14 CFR 11.38, and they become part of the type 
certification basis under Sec.  21.101.
    Special conditions are initially applicable to the model for which 
they are issued. Should the type certificate for that model be amended 
later to include any other model that incorporates the same novel or 
unusual design feature, or should any other model already included on 
the same type certificate be modified to incorporate the same novel or 
unusual design feature, the special conditions would also apply to the 
other model.

Novel or Unusual Design Features

    The EC130T2 model helicopter will incorporate a novel or unusual 
design feature, which is:
     A 30-minute power rating.

Applicability

    These special conditions are applicable to the Eurocopter France 
Model EC130T2 helicopter. These special conditions would apply if 
Eurocopter France seeks to amend Type Certificate No. H9EU to add 
another model that has the same unusual design feature.

Conclusion

    This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features 
on the Eurocopter France Model EC130T2 helicopter. It is not a rule of 
general applicability, and it affects only the applicant who applied to 
the FAA for approval of this feature.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 27

    Aircraft, Aviation safety, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

0
The authority citation for these special conditions is as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44704.

The Special Conditions

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the following special conditions are issued as part of 
the type certification basis for Eurocopter France model EC130T2 
helicopter. Unless stated otherwise, all requirements in Sec. Sec.  
27.923, 27.1305 and 27.1521 remain unchanged.
    (a) Section 27.923 Rotor drive system and control mechanism tests, 
at Amendment 27-29. In addition to the requirements of this section, 
the test prescribed in Sec.  27.923(e) must be conducted in intervals 
of not less than 30 minutes.
    (b) Section 27.1305 Powerplant instruments, at Amendment 27-37. In 
addition to the requirements of this section, a means must be provided 
to indicate to the pilot when the engine is at the 30-minute power 
level, when the event begins, and when the time interval expires.
    (c) Section 27.1521 Powerplant limitations, at Amendment 27-29. In

[[Page 48060]]

addition to the requirements of this section, use of the 30-minute 
power must be limited to no more than 30 minutes per use, and no more 
than one hour per flight. The use of the 30-minute power must also be 
limited by:
    (1) The maximum rotational speed, which may not be greater than--
    (i) The maximum value determined by the rotor design; or
    (ii) The maximum value demonstrated during the type tests;
    (2) The maximum allowable gas temperature; and
    (3) The maximum allowable torque.

Kimberly K. Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-19444 Filed 8-10-12; 8:45 am]
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